Are the old range rovers better than the p38?

Hi guys,

Is it just me or does it seem the old classic Range Rovers are alot more reliable than the p38 onward??
There seems to be next to no threads regarding any issues related to the classic, i have a 1989 Range Rover vogue 3.5 efi with lpg and it has done 143k and its still going strong.
The only issues have been top section of tailgate needed replaced, the head cloth started sagging so needed fixed and a couple of dash bulbs needed replaced.
I was thinking of getting a newer model maybe 97 upwards but after reading all these horror stories and internet reviews the reliablity of them seem to be the main issue.
you cant fault the comfort and refinement of them though as no matter what no 4x4 comes close to the Range Rover for class.

Mackenzie85 said:

Hi guys,

Is it just me or does it seem the old classic Range Rovers are alot more reliable than the p38 onward??
There seems to be next to no threads regarding any issues related to the classic, i have a 1989 Range Rover vogue 3.5 efi with lpg and it has done 143k and its still going strong.
The only issues have been top section of tailgate needed replaced, the head cloth started sagging so needed fixed and a couple of dash bulbs needed replaced.
I was thinking of getting a newer model maybe 97 upwards but after reading all these horror stories and internet reviews the reliablity of them seem to be the main issue.
you cant fault the comfort and refinement of them though as no matter what no 4x4 comes close to the Range Rover for class.

Click to expand...

gotta be honest m8, the classics do seem to be more reliable.****ed me off that every time i went out in the p38 i was waiting for the next problem

What do you have now?

shogun. in 2 months i've changed the autobox oil and not had a spanner near it (apart from fitting a towbar)...
getting withdrawals so bought the wife a pug 306 just so i **** me back up rewiring the door looms and sorting the locks and refitting the exhaust and tracing a waterleak..... ahhhh just like owning me rangie again

Haha! Yeah the shogun is a good motor it drives really nice and is quick.

I have a pug 307 on a 07 plate and its an excellent car much better than the 306.
It is as good as a vw golf and all its components are generally bosch made so the quality is there.

I may be selling the range rover 2moro as they take too much attention and time to keep them running as well as an ordinary car.
It just becomes a pain in the arse at times its almost like painting the forth road bridge you never stop doing it!

ahem i mean the forth rail bridge!

Mackenzie85 said:

ahem i mean the forth rail bridge!

Click to expand...

be harder trying to paint the road bridge though..
got the pug for £50 scrap value got 11 months mot and six months tax on it.
mate of a mates sisters mate snuffed it so i bought the car.
got another day on the looms then it's done, thank fook..
then she who must be obeyed has said i can start looking for another bike. (might end up being a quad though)

yeah i managed to get a bargain like that, my mate got compo money from the army and bought himself a 06 plate pug 407 and sold me his 2000 reg citreon xsara vtr for £100 which is a total bargain and a half.
I can sell it on for a big profit which would be nice at this time of year as i am fecking skint after xmas and new year.

My misses has just got used to my car obsession, last year 2008 i had:

53 plate Citreon c2 vtr
96 Land rover Discovery v8
00 Renault Laguna sports tourer
98 Merc e300 elegance
00 Ford Mondeo Ghia x
07 Peugeot 307 sport (i still have this as cost me £8500)
98 Bmw 525i
00 Jaguar S type 3.0 v8
01 Bmw 318 convertible
98 Bmw 728
93 Toyota hilux (pile o ****e this thing was)
94 Lexus LS400 (best motor ever)
89 Range Rover Vogue (still have this)

13 motors in twelve months i am actually going to calm it down this year as that is just daft, i basically went through the equivelent of a car a month lol!
Made some good dosh on them though as always got a px for them.

As soon as you introduce electronics then reliability is going to be an issue as vehicles get older. loose plugs, corrosion, water... An old classic on carbs will be reliable.
Same goes for your road car, my "06" focus has let me down already with a sensor failing.

Well maybe so but my Range rover is the 3.5 efi so not on carbs and it still going strong 20 years old.
My car has long warranty haha!

If you get a good one Classics are great. Mine was a bit sick when I bought it. 12 months fiddling, fixing and fettling and it runs really well. Laning is taking its toll on the bodywork but I wouldn't change it. I am still tempted to get a Defender but just love the sound of a V8, especially when giving it large on the loud pedal!!

P38's are great until they play up, the electronics make DIY fixes so much harder. Get a good one, fab. Most will have some sort of gremlin and unless you enjoy tinkering you'll get frustrated and just want shot of it. I also think the later classics with anti-roll bars handle better than the Range Rovers on air springs.

In short the classic gets my vote over the P38, but could be tempted to have one if the price was right.